 I had a crash on Whites Level at Afan about 10 days ago. I landed heavliy on my left side an I have a 'type 3' (the most severe) separated shoulder. Thankyou to the freindly locals who stopped to chat. Welsh chap with the Lapierre Spicy: - you owe me an inner tube LOL. Thanks to the Yeti chappie washing his van who pointed out that at least I'm still walking! Apparently this is a common sports injury. So far I've had an x-ray, a quick diagnosis from the casualty doctor. I have a appointment fixed up with a orthopaedic surgeon to discuss treatment. I gather from websites that the type 3 full separation will probably require a pin to be inserted to rejoin collar bone and shoulder blade. It looks like I could be off the bike for a minimum of 3 months. Has anyone on here experienced this injury? If so - how long did it keep you off your bike?
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 Ouch. My injuries appear to be knee related and (touch wood) I've never really injured my shoulder.
I'm sure there are a few on here who have had shoulder/collar bone problems and will be able to advise.
Good luck for a speedy recovery...
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 Bad luck Timmy, hope you're soon back in the saddle. My balls hurt if it's any consolation?
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 commiserations Timmy, though not as bad as yours (partial dislocation with torn rotator cuff and tendon damage) I was off the bike for 2 months, though getting a decent nights sleep was the biggest problem , with quite a lot of pain with jarring impacts for six months. Though it happened last May it still occasionaly plays up. I found it really started to improve with light weight training.
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 I did the same about 16 years ago - the cure then was to have a section of muscle from the upper arm tied through a hole drilled in the collar bone. Needless to say I wimped out of the op - and I still have pain from it sometimes even now  If they can fix it, get it done!!
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A bit of advice I would give is this: find a decent physio and pay a few visits. I suffered with my knee for a long time and the NHS physio was more interested in talking about her son the Airline pilot. Although private wasn't cheap it was some of thebestmoney I've ever spent and if I had my time again the only thing I'd do differently would be going private sooner.
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 Yeah, private's not cheap but well worth the money, I did it years ago and the sooner you see a physio the better don't wait on the NHS. Luckily I now have two mates who are physios, I'm now reckless and a danger to the forest.
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 Cracked my shoulder in 2 places and did ligament damage hitting a 4" fencepost at the bottom of a chalk chute Was out for 4 months and still have pain 2 years later. Your in for a long recovery.
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I did exactly what you did about 11 years ago and had the op Jen described - it was the best part of a year before i got biking again but about 6 months later i went down hard on the shoulder again and my collar bone broke (rather than damaging my shoulder again) so the op was probably a success. Not convinced by private health care i had acl restructure 5 years ago privately and its never been right - physio was really good looking though i even agreed to acupuncture off her even though it think thats all mumbo jumbo!!
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 Did the left one when knocked off my roadie (broke the collar bone and damaged nerves too) and the right one in a ski wipe out (along with a torn rotor cuff). Both at the lowest grade though and I've fully recovered apart from looking slightly lopsided. I was back on my MTB within three months in both cases but it bothered me a lot swimming for five years (and still does a bit 16 years on) the first time and a year the second time.
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Do you want the good news or the bad ?
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The bad. 
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I tried the accupuncture too DN. When your shoulder's that screwed up you'll try pretty much anything to sort it. Even mumbo jumbo!
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Nah first good news
Left shoulder '81 [ski accident] could only rotate elbow skied the next day.
Right knee '85 [ski accident] told I'd probably not ski again skiing a year later.
Right shoulder '02 [car hit me when out on bike] back on bike in 3 weeks. [also several k in compensation bought new full susser]
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| Edited: 18/10/09 19:08 |
Perhaps I should add that back on my MTB meant pottering around, it was another five months before I raced. Oh and as I refuse to take pain killers I didn't get much sleep for a month or so. The only position I was comfortable enough to sleep was sitting on the sofa with my arm propped up.
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Bad news My left shoulder 28 years on plays me up constantly clicks and aches to sleep on bad enough to wake me up some times. Right knee 24 years on worst ache of all at the moment clicks with every pedal rotation. Right shoulder tell you in 10 years time 
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Thanks for all your replies. XC - I guess it's better to know the worst. I think I may have done the same thing in the mildest version about 4 years ago but as the doctors were more concerned about my head injury at the time, they ignored my complaints about pain from my shoulder and it's lop-sided look. I mentioned it to the casualty doc this time and he thought there might be a pre-existing injury. Anyway I'll have a proper assessment soon. I'll have to work out some exercise to keep me fit if I'm not gonna be on me bike for many months.
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Good luck Tim
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 I seperated my left shoulder in '06, only minor compared tp yours but despite a good NHS physio it still feels stiff, limited ROM and I can't hang from it. Got him to show me how to strap it up though and I was MX racing 3 months later. General advice from someone who used to hurt himself a lot; use the NHS physio but get some private treatment quick, when the NHS physio runs out continue with the private, and DO THE EXERCISES! Don't tell the NHS about your private treatment though or you get no "free" treatment, found that out the hard way with torn collateral ligaments.
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 Did my right shoulder in '82 & it took about 3 years to get back on a bike properly - they opted not to operate as I was in my teens & still had plenty of growing to do. Whilst it sometimes aches on the bike it's never unbearable but it doesn't like any activities involving rotation - swimming, tennis, golf etc. Partial dislocation & torn rotator cuff a few years ago (because of the inherent weakness) but recovery was incredibly fast thanks to the private physio - a sports injury specialist & bloody miracle worker. Hope your recovery goes well.
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| Edited: 19/10/09 10:30 |
